Chemist joins inaugural Walk of Fame class

In his lab:
Bill Starnes is the Floyd Dewey Gottwalt, Sr., Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus. Despite his emeritus status, he continues to work on research projects in his new lab in the Integrated Science Center 1. (Photo by Steve Salpukas)

Chemist William Starnes is a member of the inaugural class of the Southwest Virginia Walk of Fame, a group that includes other accomplished natives of the region, such as the Stanley Brothers, Daniel Boone and actor George C. Scott.

Starnes, a native of Lee County, is the Floyd Dewey Gottwald, Sr., Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus, at William and Mary. Though he holds emeritus rank, Starnes still conducts research in his lab in the Integrated Science Center. He is one of the world’s leading experts in the chemistry of vinyl plastics, particularly PVC—poly(vinyl chloride), the world’s second most widely used plastic material.

At William and Mary, Starnes perfected, patented and licensed an alternative PVC stabilization technology based on organic compounds known as ester thiols. His discovery provides a more environmentally friendly alternative to the toxic heavy-metal additives traditionally used in the manufacturing of PVC articles. Tests are ongoing to determine which of the tens of thousands of PVC products will be most appropriate for the new stabilizer/plasticizer technology.

“We are happy to have Dr. Starnes as the sole scientist in our inaugural class,” said Sharon Ewing, director of the Southwest Virginia Museum in Big Stone Gap. The walk of fame was inspired by the Virginia Legends Walk in Virginia Beach, she said.

Starnes joined the William and Mary faculty in 1989, working in the departments of chemistry and applied science. Before joining the College, he worked at Polytechnic University, Brooklyn and at Bell Labs. With nearly 500 publications, patents and oral presentations to his credit, Starnes was listed by the Plastics Pioneers Association in 2001 as one of fewer than a thousand individuals worldwide who have had the greatest impact on the history of plastics.